The i3 Renderings in Retrospect

Now that the BMW i3 has launched and cars are in the hands of customers, the BMW i3 Facebook Group has had a look back …

Now that the BMW i3 has launched and cars are in the hands of customers, the BMW i3 Facebook Group has had a look back at several of the early renderings for the i3.

The renderings, once the camouflaged prototypes had broken cover, were relatively accurate. After all it’s hard to do ‘swoopy/bendy’ with a basic two-box shape. The renderings, however, didn’t always anticipate the door configuration of the production car, which, thanks to the stiffness of the passenger cell, does not require a B-pillar.

One thing to keep in mind as the current i3 ages is that life cycle impulses (LCI – BMW-speak for running styling changes) can change much more than just the front and rear fascias of the i3. Since all of the exterior body panels are thermoplastic, the i3 can be significantly modified. It is not out of the realm of possibility that aftermarket body panels will become available (if you are old enough to remember, think Pontiac Fiero).

However, prior to the prototype i3s breaking cover, a number of renderings existed for what appeared to be a modern interpretation of a BMW Isetta. And we reported on some ‘mysterious’ going ons around the Isetta name in 2010 (http://www.bmwblog.com/2010/07/16/the-new-isetta/). Was that just a smoke screen? It is possible that there were some preliminary internal proposals to build a retro Isetta – and were subsequently abandoned. But, do not forget, we still haven’t seen what BMW has planned for an i1 or i2. Watch this space . .